Big match ahead for Tully, Millmerran

Two teams from towns whose population adds up to just under 4000 people will be represented in the state final of the ARL Development Cup at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday.

The youngsters from Tully, a couple of hours drive north of Townsville, will take on a team from Millmerran, a couple of hours drive west of Toowoomba, as a curtain-raiser to the Toyota Cowboys' round 25 match-up with the Cronulla Sharks.

The Development Cup is open to primary schools across Queensland with the two finalists firstly winning their regional competitions before then surviving quarter-final and semi-final matches to make it to Dairy Farmers.

The rules of the competition allow smaller schools to combine their resources so they are able to match up against the larger primary schools.

The combined Tully team, which beat St Patricks Emerald in the semi-finals, includes years six and seven players from Tully State School, El Arish State School and St Clares College.